MINSK, 23 June (BelTA) – Belarusian sambo wrestlers secured four bronze medals on Day 2 of the Minsk European Games on 23 June, BelTA has learned.
Gracing the podium were Ivan Aniskevich (62kg), Stsiapan Papou (74kg), Volha Namazava (68kg), and Sviatlana Tsimashenka (80kg).
“The bout was a difficult one. The rival was very tall. At the previous European championships I lost to him. Today I took revenge,” Ivan Aniskevich told the media. He added that the 2nd European Games medal was a long-awaited award.
His teammate Stsiapan Papou took note of high competition in sambo. “For the past four years the athletes from across Europe have been preparing for the 2nd European Games. Even Russians, who are many-time world champions, have been losing today. Physically and psychologically, I was ready to compete for gold. Bronze is a good result for me, too,” said the athlete. He added that it is a great responsibility to compete on the home ground.
The sambo tournament at the 2nd European Games featured 144 athletes in 18 medal events.
